The healthy halfback stocks within New Zealand rugby are a factor in Brad Weber's decision to re-sign with both the Chiefs and the All Blacks.
Weber, 30, has signed a two-year contract extension with NZ Rugby, giving him the chance to add to his 10 test caps with the All Blacks, as well as bring up the milestone of 100 Super Rugby appearances for the Chiefs - currently sitting at 98.
But while many other players in his position - stuck behind Aaron Smith on the All Blacks No.9 depth chart - might look elsewhere for opportunities in Europe or Japan, Weber uses the competition for places as motivation, wanting to prove his worth at the highest level.
Smith's presence has usually left Weber battling with TJ Perenara as the NZ back-up halfback, and the emergence of newly capped Finlay Christie and the soon-to-be eligible Folau Fakatava will make that struggle even more intense in the near future.
But after facing competition since his 2014 Chiefs debut4, that challenge has been an ever-present in his career and even forces Weber to stay in front of the chasing pack.
"One hundred percent it does," Weber tells Newshub, when asked whether competition for places drives him forward.
"I've had competition within my halfbacks [for] my whole professional career. I had it with Tawera [Kerr-Barlow] and Augustine [Pulu] when I was first here, and then Te Toiroa [Tahuriorangi] and Xavier [Roe] recently.
"It's nothing new having quality guys around the squad to compete with, and it pushes me to want to try and get better, so I stay in front of those guys.
"If I'm feeling that way, then I know how much those guys are chomping at the bit to try and overtake me. You've got to work even harder than some of those guys.
"It certainly adds to it, the quality of depth we've got at halfback in the country is unreal.
"If you can't get motivated by that, maybe it would have been time for me to go overseas."
That halfback logjam will be eased slightly in the coming weeks, with Smith staying at home when the All Blacks depart for Australia to play the 2021 Rugby Championship.
Smith's absence will leave a shootout, likely between Weber, Perenara and Christie, to take hold of the No.9 jersey, as coach Ian Foster's side bid to defend their Rugby Championship crown.
Weber is just looking forward to the chance of guaranteed minutes at test level.
"It's massive,” he says. “I've been battling away for quite a few years and when you've got two of the greatest to have done it in the jersey in front of you, it's tough.
"You're battling away for years, trying to do your best for the team, so now to potentially get a few more minutes would be great to really test myself, and prove to myself and everyone else that I belong at this level.
"That's hugely exciting for me and something that I don't take for granted, particularly if you think about it, moving forward long term, it's probably a really good spot for the All Blacks to be in.
"Guys who might not have got as much opportunity will now over these next 15 weeks get some more opportunity. In terms of depth, it's going to be great for the team overall.
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